Why is anti-Japanese sentiment remaining from the World War II era almost non-existent in Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia, unlike in China and South Korea?

Could be shorter periods of brutalisation. Though there are reminders everywhere of IJA brutality in Singapore - a 1000 Chinese were marched off to Punggol Point and massacred, for instance, and it is commemorated.

In some countries, it's due to propaganda by authoritarian regimes that the Japanese have coddled up to and effectively supported in the form of generous ODA. In Indonesia, for example, the Japanese invasion killed 4 million Indonesians, twice the number as all the Japanese who died in the Pacific War. Yet Japanese nationalists point to Indonesia as an example of how the people supposedly love Japan. If that’s the case, then the “people” have been deceived and lied to.

You may as well as ask why Poland and Germany are such great friends these days. To say it’s because the Germans actually treated the Poles well during WW2 would be outrageous, just as JT’s question above is.

In some countries, it's due to propaganda by authoritarian regimes that the Japanese have coddled up to and effectively supported in the form of generous ODA.

However in many of those countries, their government will let those historical artifact as it is with a bit of maintenance, so anyone can visit. They don't do massive propaganda but at the same time won't erase history of Japanese imperial army.

https://www.roots.gov.sg/en/stories-landing/stories/stories-they-tell-monuments-and-singapore-during-the-japanese-occupation/story

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231011/p2g/00m/0na/053000c

Perhaps due to political leverage and money.

China and SK no longer are as dependent on Japan's ODA or investment like they used to be. They think it's to their benefit to have a boogeyman to blame and divert attention away from their own domestic troubles at times.

The Southeast Asian countries mentioned above have more to lose by isolating Japan away from them. They also have benefitted, recognized and appreciated Japan's benevolence since WWII. These countries have also largely moved on psychologically from that war.

The ones mentioned except China/SK are adult countries.

You're asking us? How about asking Chinese and Koreans? My assumption is that the brutality was so massive and shocking that it burned into the conscience of generations.

I'm Filipino and I can speak on behalf of my countrymen. I think that unlike my country, the Japanese aggression in China and Korea started way before the second world war, not to mention the shopping list of war crimes that happened there. And yes, the Philippines also suffered heavily under the Japanese, we're the second most destroyed city next to Warsaw during the war and Manila also saw similar events to Nanking but has only been confined to history books.

I think unlike the East Asian psyche that is historically conscious and tends to really hold on to the past, especially on bad things, us Filipinos and probably other Southeast Asians tend to forgive easily but we will not forget what happened. If you look at Filipino films up until the early 2000's, you will still see comedic sketches of Japanese soldiers during that period.

The simple answer is bias and propaganda on both sides.

Because China and Korea are like Israel bridge building that collapse at the MaMaccabiah Games. If you can build a bridge you can't get over it.

The statement is not correct. Only in Taiwan there is less antipathy against the Japanese and that is because that island is completely focussed on money. All sentiment is subjected to money in Taiwan

ToshihiroToday  01:10 pm JST

I think unlike the East Asian psyche that is historically conscious and tends to really hold on to the past, especially on bad things, us Filipinos and probably other Southeast Asians tend to forgive easily but we will not forget what happened. If you look at Filipino films up until the early 2000's, you will still see comedic sketches of Japanese soldiers during that period.

A great post Toshihiro, especially this second paragraph.

Indonesian here, can't say for other countries, but in Indonesia, I don't remember any of my history teachers in elementary, middle, high school ever taught us to "hate" Japan. We were not even taught to hate the Netherlands which colonized us for 350 years. Funny thing is, many Indonesians dislike China and the US more.

I remember being taught, about the 3A propaganda, romusha, all the bad stuffs everyone knows. But, we were also taught the "good" stuffs, especially how Japan inspired us to gain independence, and how Japanese soldiers stayed to help us gain independence - after Japan's defeat - from the Netherlands and its allies, who came back to reestablish their colony. You can go to Kalibata and see tombstone of Japanese soldiers that we still honor to this day.

We know what happened, we're not stupid and we won't forget, but Indonesians are forgiving people. We saw Japan has made amendments since then, it's a changed country.

Kidousha, Well defended and well stated.

Why? It doesn't take a lot of digging to find out:

"During its imperial era, the Empire of Japan committed numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity across various Asian-Pacific nations, notably during the Second Sino-Japanese and Pacific Wars. These incidents have been referred to as "the Asian Holocaust". The majority of these crimes occurred during the early part of the Shōwa era, under Hirohito's reign.

The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) and the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) were responsible for a multitude of war crimes leading to millions of deaths. These crimes ranged from sexual slavery and massacres to human experimentation, starvation, and forced labor, all either directly committed or condoned by the Japanese military and government. Evidence of these crimes, including oral testimonies and written records such as diaries and war journals, has been provided by Japanese veterans.

The Imperial Japanese Army Air Service participated in chemical and biological attacks on civilians during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, violating international agreements that Japan had previously signed, including the Hague Conventions, which prohibited the use of "poison or poisoned weapons" in warfare."

Wikipedia

The Japan hate is nothing but a trump card used by politicians when they need to distract the people from problems at home. That's the way China and Korea have done it.

Korea was occupied by Japan for how long? Forty years? Which was then a factor in a bloody civil war. Surely that matters more than the three years Japan was in Singapore.

If you ever come across racist Japanese, you will find them attacking Chinese and Koreans more often than anyone else. So the feeling is mutual.

I would assume it's because China and Korea were the main victims of the atrocities committed by the Japanese during WW2. Comment of the day comes from someone who clearly has never read up on WW2 history.

No doubt the victim/we were wronged card played by political leaders to garner domestic support explains partly the reasoning. Creating a Them vs Us dichotomy is a strategy used by politicians world wide and Korea/China are no exception.

Also as others indicated, the length of time of occupation and manner of brutal subjugation probably instilled an aversion to Japan in both countries.

Japan's encroachment in Korea and Korean affairs began in the 19th C, was solidified with annexation in the early 20th C and only finished with the end of the war in 1945. During that time - over 2 generations - there were so many incidents and actions that exploited and demoralized the Korean nation. People grew up as did their children, knowing only Japanese Rule.

Japan's "taking control" in mainland China began earnestly in the early 30s. The rule of Military Might was to continue for 15 years with again many terrible incidents, and only ended in 1945.

The scars of these long occupations no doubt cut deep.

But on a positive note millions of Koreans, Chinese & Japanese do not bear grudges and mouth hatred at each other. Substantial business, economic, social, tourist etc ventures exist that create a level of tolerance and harmony.

Many ordinary folk don't play the political games encouraged by certain members of society - political or otherwise - and get on with peaceful co-existence.

My assumption is that the brutality was so massive and shocking that it burned into the conscience of generations.

Brutality in China and Korea were of longer duration, especially in the latter.

However, governments and private institutions may profit by making sure that every new generation is indoctrinated. (I distinguish between indoctrination - which cannot be questioned - and learning - which may be questioned.)

Why is anti-Japanese sentiment remaining from the World War II era almost non-existent in Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia, unlike in China and South Korea?

Here’s your starter for ten…:

https://japantoday.com/category/politics/tokyo's-controversial-yasukuni-shrine-picks-ex-admiral-as-chief-priest

One look at that photo is enough for many people.

Because Korea and China suffered longer than Singapore, Taiwan or Philippines. The crimes against Chinese for example are x10 fold compared to the ones of Germany during WW2.

What is sad and revolting however, is the fact the the young generations are never thought about the Japanese atrocities and war crimes from WW2. It only takes a look of the history books the children are learning to see that there is absolutely no mention, none, zero, of this, but on the contrary, Japan plays the victim card, the drama queen of WW2, when in fact was the worst aggressor from all participating countries.

DanteKH

Today 08:45 pm JST

Because Korea and China suffered longer than Singapore, Taiwan or Philippines. The crimes against Chinese for example are x10 fold compared to the ones of Germany during WW2

It would be nice if before commenting people would just do the minimum of checking.

Korea was under occupation from 1910 to 1944

And anyone that knows anything about Japan and China knows that Taiwan was lost to Japan after the first sino Japan war in 1895 a full 15 years longer than Korea.

And other than Chinese propaganda!

The vast majority of experts abd research say that Germany was responsible for more civilian deaths with the USSR suffering the largest number of civilian deaths.

The crimes against Chinese for example are x10 fold compared to the ones of Germany during WW2

Really!?!!

11 million died in concentration camps alone the USSR losr 19 million civilians, etc...

For your x10 fold to be true then China lost at a minimum 110 million civilians alone!

Just so you know the general consensus is 60 million died in total worldwide but even the highest theories put the max a 85 million and in all cases they agree the soviet Union took the brunt of the deaths and casualties both military and civilian with around 65% of all those killed being from the former Soviet union.

History matters and facts matter!

Korea was under occupation from 1910 to 1944

Autocorrect again that is 1945 not 1944.

History matters and facts matter!

> -1( +0 / -1 )

Well it seems someone doesn't like facts!